Salceda: AI tutor, take-home books to curb rainy day learning loss

Insider Spotlight

•  Learning loss warning: Frequent class suspensions from heavy rains could leave Filipino children up to 14% behind in learning outcomes.
•  Proposed fixes: Take-home textbooks, remedial teaching, make-up classes, and flood-resilient school infrastructure pushed to curb losses.
•  AI tutor pilot: The IRSS is developing an AI tutor for the Alternative Learning System to guide children when teachers cannot.
• Crisis compounding: With 91% of 10-year-olds already unable to read, Salceda warns climate change-driven disruptions are worsening PH's learning poverty

Frequent class suspensions due to heavy rainfall may be quietly eroding the learning of Filipino children, leaving them far behind by the time they finish elementary school, according to Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the Institute for Risk and Strategic Studies.

Salceda said urgent solutions include giving students take-home textbooks, strengthening remedial teaching, improving online learning tools, and developing an AI tutor that can guide children when teachers cannot. 

Joey Sarte Salceda, chair of the Institute for Risk and Strategic Studies.​​​​

“Rainy days are stealing learning days. Our calculations show that while the direct loss is about 7 percent of class time each year, the real impact on learning outcomes compounds."

He also urged local governments to hold make-up classes and build more flood-resilient school infrastructure.

“Rainy days are stealing learning days. Our calculations show that while the direct loss is about 7 percent of class time each year, the real impact on learning outcomes compounds. By the end of elementary school, children may be as much as 14 percent behind where they should be,” he said.

Stark numbers

He noted that some provinces, such as Albay, experience up to 200 rainy days a year. Nationwide, the Department of Education suspends classes between 15 and 25 days annually due to heavy rainfall—equivalent to nearly a month of learning time lost each year.

“This effect builds up over time and pushes more children into learning poverty,” he explained, citing World Bank data showing that 91 percent of 10-year-olds in the Philippines cannot read and understand a simple text.

Technology support

Salceda said the Institute for Risk and Strategic Studies is piloting an AI tutor in the Alternative Learning System that can help children work through their modules. Once tested, the tool will be rolled out to schools most affected by suspensions.

“Better learning materials and digital support can help children keep learning even when classes are canceled. The goal is to make sure no child is left too far behind because of the weather,” he said.

Bigger picture

Salceda warned that climate change is intensifying rainfall disruptions, making education more vulnerable.

“The numbers are stark. Out of every 100 Filipino children, 91 cannot read a short story by age 10. On top of that, heavy rains are erasing more than four months of class time and nearly 14 percent of learning outcomes by the end of elementary school. We need to treat this as an education emergency,” he said. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma